Rise-Ghana Launches Project To Combat New TB Infections

Ghana has recorded an increased number of Tuberculosis cases in recent times with 12,511 in 2007 and a peak of 15,842 in 2011 with 2010 recording 15,067 as against 14,479 in 2008 and 12,963 in 2007. These successes have been achieved by a combined effort of all stakeholders in the health sector.

TB control in Ghana has seen an unprecedented increase in detected cases and successful treatment of patients over the past six years. Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that, 85 percent of all new infections detected had been treated successfully. Ghana achieved this target from 76.1 to 85.3 percent of all infected TB cases detected in 2011. 

In order to attain a 100 percent treatment target or complete elimination of TB, Rural Initiatives for Self Empowerment (RISE-Ghana), a non-governmental organisation based in the Upper East Regional capital town of Bolgatanga, recently launched a project aimed at combating new TB infections and encouraging persons with the disease to seek treatment at the hospital.

The project also intended to fight stigmatisation, a major bottleneck that is derailing efforts towards eliminating the disease in the country and let people know that sharing cutlery, drinking cups and eating with an infected person would not necessarily get them infected with the disease.

The one year US$20,000 project, according to the Project Manager of RISE-Ghana Awal Ahmed, was funded by Stop TB Partnership Challenge Facility for Civil Society Organsations and the funds would be used to mobilise and strengthen CSOs and TB patients so that they could hold government, civil society and other service providers accountable so as to increase responsiveness towards TB, MDR-TB and HIV-TB.

He explained that an enabling environment would be created for various actors such as health advocates, TB patients, CSOs and the media to engage in advocacy and accountability dialogues towards stopping TB in the Upper East Region. “The project will also increase awareness on TB and reduce stigma through a monthly radio talk-show programme.”

According to health experts, TB is a curable disease that is spread through air by coughing, sneezing, shouting or singing. If one experience a cough for more than two weeks, weight loss, excessive night sweat he/she must report to the nearest health facility for laboratory investigation.

If it is not diagnosed as TB, it could be any other lung disease like asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia that needs to be treated. The WHO estimates that out of the 85 percent of TB cases that occurred in developing countries, Africa had 30 percent while Asia recorded 55 percent.